Intestinal ECs not only act as a physiological barrier, but also take
part in the immunological function of the intestine by the formation of
secretary form of immunoglobulin leading to the secretion of IgA and
IgM into the intestinal lumen [1]. Reciprocally, IgG, which is involved
in the antigen transport system, is transported from the intestinal
lumen via the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) expressed on the apical
surface of ECs [32]. In addition, ECs release exosomes containing
antigen bound to MHC class II. The released MHC-bound antigen is
thought to induce tolerance, not activation, of antigen-specific T cell
responses [33]. This system might be important aspect of the gut
immune system for the creation of immunologically quiescence
condition at the harsh environment of intestine.
Among ECs in the villous epithelium, we identified M cells sharing
similar characteristic with the M cells originally found in the FAE of
PPs (or PP M cells) and termed them villous M cells [34]. Villous M
cells are thus morphologically similar to M cells in the PPs and are recognized by UEA-1 lectin and M cell-specific NKM16-2-4 antibody, a
marker of murine M cells. The specificity for UAE-1 and NKM 16-2-4
antibody suggests that villousMcellsmost likely harbor identicalα(1,2)
fucose based glycosylation molecules. Like M cells, villous M cells were
capable of taking up Salmonella, Yersinia, and Escherichia coli expressing
invasin. In addition, they are found in villous epithelium in PP-deficient
mice, which allow them to still induce antigen-specific IgA responses
[15,16]. Thus, villous M cells are an alternative antigen-sampling site
and can be consider as the additional targeting site for oral vaccine
delivery.
We recently reported that M cell-like α(1,2) fucose based
glycosylation can be induced on intestinal ECs by environmental
stimuli such as colonization with commensal biota, treatment with
cholera toxin, or treatment with dextran sodium sulfate and termed
these cells as fucosylated ECs (F-ECs) [35]. Although a functional role
of F-ECs in the induction of immune responses against intestinal
antigens needs further investigation, these findings suggest additional
possible strategies to induce F-ECs for the enrichment of antigensampling
system at the intestinal epithelium to vaccine administered
via oral route.